Review of Konfidence USA Baby Warma, and Baby Wetsuit
By Matt Smith

I love swimming with my kids. Splashing, water fights, the slides, and trying to talk them into going under the large buckets that dump water on your head is a great way to spend an afternoon. Our older kids can do this stuff for hours on end, and not get tired, or cold. However, our two youngest children (1 and 3) don't move around enough yet to generate their own warmth, and often after about an hour have blue lips, and finger tips, and a case of the shivers. So we hop out of the pool, wrap them in a towel and sit in the sun, trying to keep an eye on the other kids at a distance.

I met Steve Yockey at the Outdoor Retailer summer show in Salt Lake City last August. The products at his booth grabbed my eye, even though I was late for another appointment. I promised to stop back, which I did, and I am so glad. Steve introduced me to the Konfidence swimwear line. Konfidence produces training jackets with variable flotation (see the review for the Original Konfidence Jacket), UV resistant swimwear, and children's wetsuits. The two wetsuits in particular that caught my eye are the Baby Warma, and the Baby Wetsuit.

The Baby Warma, and Baby Wetsuit are essentially the same product, adjusted for sizes from about 6 months to about 3 1/2 years depending on how fast your child grows. There is plenty of room inside either for a swim diaper, and/or swimsuit. The Baby Warma is extremely functional. It opens completely so you can lay it out, set the baby on top, and the close all the hook and loop flaps securely around your baby. The adjustability allowed by the shoulder, side, and bottom flaps is incredible. We used the Warma as our son was growing quickly from 16 months to 20 months, and never had a problem getting a snug, tight fit. We found that our son could tolerate 2 to 2 1/2 hours in the pool water before getting cold with the Warma, vs. generally less than an hour without. At a $27 retail price, the Baby Warma is an excellent product that every new parent should have in my opinion. It definitely increased the enjoyment of going to the pool as a family.

The Baby Wetsuit is similar to the Baby Warma, but lacks a flap on the side. This didn't seem to be a problem with our 3 year old who by now is used to stepping in to clothes. The adjustment hook and loop straps on the shoulders and bottom are longer, and allow for more adjustment for height than those on the Baby Warma. On top of providing added warmth, which translates to longer time at the pool, the Baby Wetsuit seemed to have a psychological benefit too. Our son had always been a little timid around the water, but the minute he put on the Baby Wetsuit, he was more adventureous and seemed more comfortable in the water. My guess is that the suggled feeling of the wetsuit is what made the difference. As with the Baby Warma, a $27 retail price for the Baby Wetsuit, makes it a great buy for the money.

If you take your young children to swim at a local pool, lake, or water park, you should seriously consider the Baby Warma and Baby Wetsuits. Your children will stay warmer and be more comfortable, which means everyone will have more fun.

Perhaps the best part is that between the Baby Warma and Baby Wetsuit, you should have your child covered at least until he is 3, and maybe even 4 depending on size. Our 3 (nearly 4 now) year old is around the 75 percentile for height and weight and is just growing out of the Baby Wetsuit. If you have more than one child, or plan to, even better. The Konfidence products are well made and should last through as many kids as you can put in them.

Summary: THe Baby Wetsuit and Baby Warma are versatile, adjustable, and easy to put on your child. The low retail price makes them especially attractive for anyone who enjoys spending time as a family swimming.

For more information contact:
Steve Yockey
www.konfidence-usa.com
1799 Co. Rd. 90 Suite 4
Independence, MN 55359
(612) 605-1056

Matt Smith is the canyoneering specialist at GearReview.com, and loves spending time in the outdoors with his 5 kids.